Container for paint brushes



Sept. 25, 1962 w. M. FRANKLIN ETAL 3,055,492

CONTAINER FOR PAINT BRUSHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12. 1959 N muw m M E NNE N MW m WFJYV H MM A M0 0 mm WE%/ Y B p -1 1962 w. M. FRANKLIN ETAL 3,055,492

CONTAINER FOR PAINT BRUSHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1959 S ME N MAN v. Du V 0 m N F J T I A M M D M A? mm W E Y B Sept. 25, 1962 w. M. FRANKLIN ETAL 3,055,492

CONTAINER FOR PAINT BRUSHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, l959 INVENTORS WILLIAM M. FRANKLIN ELWO United States Patent 3,055,492 CONTAINER FOR PAINT BRUSHES William M. Franklin, Summit, and Elwood M. Jones, In, East Orange, N.J., assignors to The Sherwin-Williams Co., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 819,857 Claims. (Cl. 20615.1)

This invention relates to packages or containers of paperboard or the like, and particularly to packages or containers specially designed for holding a paint brush during shipment and storage, while on display for sale, and subsequently between uses of the brush.

One of the problems in the packaging of paint brushes, particularly in the case of large, relatively heavy paint brushes for the painting of building exteriors, exterior and interior walls of all kinds, and similarly large surface areas, is to prevent impairment of the flat tapered configuration of the bristles. Appropriately shaped, simple, paper or paperboard caps over the bristle ends of paint brushes have commonly been used for many years for this purpose, and they provide a fair degree of protection for the bristles. However, particulartly in the case of large, heavy brushes of the kinds referred to above, the bristles may still be damaged if the containers for the capped brushes are left standing with the brushes vertically disposed With their bristle ends down and supporting the weight of the brushes.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a paint brush package or container which, during shipment and storage, and even while the container is open and standing in a display, will prevent the brush from standing on the ends of its bristles, regardless of how the container is oriented; to provide a paint brush package or container which will also maintain the desired flat, tapered configuration of the bristles; to provide such a package or container which is simple and economical to manufacture with conventional paperboard box manufacturing equipment; and to provide such a package or container which is attractive in appearance for display purposes and is easily opened and closed for removal and replacement of the brush, so that it will be a convenient package or container in which the painter may store and protect his brush after each use thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank of relatively stiff material, such a paperboard or the like, from which a brush-holding portion of the package of the invention may be cut, fold lines being indicated by dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1, partly folded into the form in which it is to be used;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a box of relatively stiff sheet material, such as paperboard or the like, containing the brush-holding structure of FIG. 2 in its fully folded condition, with a paint brush held thereby inside the box and with the lid of the box opened;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 3, taken as indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of a blank of relatively stiff material, such as paperboard or the like, from which a modified brush holding portion of the package may be cut, fold lines being indicated by dotted lines;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 5 completely folded, except for one side, into the form in which it is to be used.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the brush-holding structure shown therein is adapted to be inserted snugly into a box of only slightly larger external dimensions than 3,055,492 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 in FIG. 2.

At the opposite end of the blank of FIG. 1, an end flap, generally designated 13, is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 10 along a fold line 14, and is adapted to be folded along additional fold lines 15, 16', 17, and 18, to provide a generally tubular folded structure of rectangular cross section, as shown in FIG. 2. This tubular structure extends transversely of the bottom panel 10 so as to provide inner and outer spaced transverse walls 20 and 21. The inner transverse wall 20 is provided with an aperture 22 therethrough, appropriately shaped to receive and snugly embrace the end of the handle of a paint brush as hereinafter described.

The blank of FIG. 1 may also comprise a pair of opposite side flaps 23 and 24, hingedly connected to the bottom panel 10 along respective fold lines 25 and 26 that extend along only a portion of the length of the bottom panel 10 and of the side flaps 23 and 24 from the transverse fold line 14. Over the remainder of their lengths toward the opposite transverse fold line 12, the side flaps 23 and 24 are separated from the bottom panel 10 by cuts or slits 27 and 28, respectively.

Near the geometrical center of the bottom panel 10 an anchor flap 29 is formed by cutting through the blank along a line 31 defining three sides of the anchor flap 29. The fourth side of the anchor flap 29 is defined by a fold line 32, whereby the anchor flap may be folded back upon the bottom panel 10, as indicated in FIG. 2, until it lies flat against the bottom panel. Small apertures 33 and 34 are respectively cut or punched out of the anchor flap 29 and bottom panel 10 so that the two apertures will be aligned and in registry when the anchor flap is completely folded back upon the bottom panel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the blank of FIG. 1, described above, may be folded as shown, and the folding completed by additionally folding the side flap 23 through ninety degrees to extend parallel with the side flap 24 and normal to the panel It Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a box for receiving the brush-holding structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 and for receiving a paint brush, generally designated 35, may comprise an elongated shallow bo-x, conventionally constructed from similar paperboard or other relatively stiff sheet material. As shown in its completed form, the box may comprise a bottom 36, opposite side walls 37 and 38, opposite end Walls 39 and 4t), and a cover 41 having a tuck flap 42 hingedly connected to its elongated free.

edge. Suitably, the box may be constructed from a single blank in a well-known manner, with the side and end walls 37, 38, 39, and 40 secured one to another at the corners of the box, and with the cover 41 hingedly connected thereto along a fold line 43. The internal dimensions of the box, as indicated above, are preferably selected so that the completely folded structure of FIG. 2 will fit snugly in the box in frictional engagement with all four of the side and end walls thereof, and with the tubular structure formed from the end flap 13 corresponding in height to the full internal depth of the box.

Before inserting the completely folded brush-holding structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 into the box, a pin 45, suitably made of a slightly flexible and elastic molded plastic or the like, and having a head 46 integrally formed on one end thereof, is inserted through the aligned apertures 33 and 34 of the bottom panel and anchor flap 29 so as to project upwardly therefrom. The paint brush 35, having a suitably located aperture 48 through the handle 49 thereof, is then positioned on the bottom panel 10 with its end 47 projecting through the aperture 22 in the inner transverse wall and against the outer transverse wall 21, and with the pin 45 projecting upwardly through the aperture 48 of the brush handle. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the aperture 48 through the brush handle 49 may, if desired, be lined with a plastic or metal sleeve or ferrule 56. Thereupon, the top panel 11 is folded downwardly and snugly over the bristle end portion 51 of the paint brush, with a free end portion 52 of the top panel 11 generally following the contour of the base of the brush handle to a point closely adjacent the pin 45, where it is secured to the brush handle as hereinafter described.

Any desired form of nut 53 may then be secured on the upper free end of the pin 45 by any form of interlocking conformations so as to bear firmly downwardly upon the brush handle 49 and the end portion 52 of the top panel 11. Suitably, the nut 53 may have a simple aperture centrally formed therethrough and made of such dimensions that it may be applied with a clinging force-fit over the free end of the pin 45, so as to hold itself tightly thereon but be capable of ready removal without requiring an excessive upward pull.

Alternatively, the nut 53 may be threaded onto the pin 45 or secured thereon in any other desired manner.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the separation of the side flaps 23 and 24 from the bottom panel 19 along the cuts or slits 27 and 23, respectively, permits the bottom panel 10 to be bent upwardly adjacent the fold line 12 to conform to the tapered contour of the bristle end portion 51 of the paint brush, while the top panel 11 is bent in the reverse manner to conform to the opposite side of the bristle end portion of the paint brush. This aids in retaining the tapered form of the bristle end portion of the brush in somewhat the same manner as the caps heretofore commonly used in the art. At the same time, the side flaps 23 and 24 enclose the opposite edges of the bristle portion 51 of the paint brush. The completely assembled paint brush and holding structure to which it is attached may then be inserted into the box, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the lid 41 of the box may be closed in a conventional manner with the tuck flap 42 securely held in the box between the side Wall 37 thereof and the side flap 23 of the brush-holding structure.

From the foregoing description of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, it will be apparent that the point brush 35 may be easily and quickly secured in place and the holding structure inserted and securely held in the box against movement therein. As shown, the tip of the bristle end 51 of the paint brush is held by the pin 45, slightly spaced from the fold line 12, so that no endwise pressure thereon will occur regardless of how the complete package may be oriented during shipment, storage, or while standing on display. The tubular structure formed by the end flap 13, when folded as shown and described, assists in holding the paint brush securely in position in its holding structure and in preventing any movement of the holding structure in any direction Within the box. As best shown in 'FIG. 4, the total thickness of the brush holder and brush held therein in the region where the brush bristles 51 are secured to the brush handle 49, may be equal to the depth of the closed box so that the entire brush holder and brush assembly are additionally constrained between the top and bottom of the box against movement therein. Also, where the upturned side flaps 23 and 24 have the same vertical height as the end flap structure 13, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the side flaps 23 and 24 will fill the depth of the box between the top and bottom thereof and contribute similarly to securing the brush holder against movement in the box. It will also be apparent that the paint brush 25 will be securely held in an attractive manner when the box in which it is contained is opened and laid or propped up on a counter for display purposes, wh1le affording the same protection of the brush described above.

The brush 35 may be readily and quickly removed for use and replaced for storage, after cleaning, by simply removing the nut 53 with an upward pull from the thumb and forefinger. The top panel 11 may be folded back and the brush removed by first lifting the bristle end portion 51 thereof and withdrawing the tip of the handle portion 48 from the aperture 22. Replacing the brush in the package is accomplished with equal facility by simply reversing the removal procedure.

Certain optional variations of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, which show a generally similar arrangement of a paint brush and modified holding structure adapted to be inserted into a box of the character shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the same general relationship therewith. This modified brush holding structure may be integrally folded into its useable condition from a fiat blank of suitable sheet material shown, the blank comprising a fiat bottom panel 60, a top panel 61 hingedly connected to the bottom panel 60 along a fold line 62.

Instead of the end flap structure generally designated 13 in FIGS. 1 and 2, by which the end of the handle of a paint brush is held in place, an equivalent of the anchor flap 29 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is employed in the form of an end flap 69 hingedly connected to the bottom panel 60 along a fold line 71. This anchor flap 69 is adapted to be folded back upon the bottom panel 60 as shown in H6. 6, and the same pin 45 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be inserted upwardly through a hole 72 in the bottom panel and an aligned hole 73: in the anchor flap 69. The pin 45, in this instance, projects through an aperture near the end of the handle 74 of a paint brush 75, with the head of the pin engaging the bottom side of the bottom panel 60 and the nut 53 secured on the upper free end of the pin for anchoring the handle of the paint brush to the bottom panel 60.

The top panel 61, in this embodiment of the invention, is provided with an end flap 77 hingedly connected to the top panel 61 along a fold line 78 so that it may be folded to extend downwardly substantially at right angles to the bottom panel 60, as shown in FIG. 6. A notch 79 is cut into the end flap 77 with a configuration such that it may be slipped over the handle 74 of the paint brush at a point along its length where its diameter is relatively small and may be slid along the handle toward the bristle end of the brush during downward folding of the end flap so as to securely, but releasably, grip a portion of the handle of larger diameter adjacent the bristle portion of the brush, as shown in FIG. 6. As will be apparent, the top panel 61 is thereby held firmly down over the bristle portion of the brush by the flap 77, which is removably locked onto the handle 74 of the brush.

This brush holding structure also includes side flaps 83 and 84 hingedly connected to the bottom panel 60 by fold lines 85 and 86 respectively. These fold lines, as in the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, extend only about half way along the length of the bottom panel 60, so that the remainder of the length of the bottom panel is capable of being bent upwardly and conforming to the tapered contour of the bristle portion of the paint brush while the side flaps 83 and 84 are disposed at right angles to the connected portion of the bottom panel.

The manner of inserting the paint brush into the brush holding structure of FIGS. 5 and 6 and releasably locking it thereto will be apparent from the foregoing description and from the description of the generally similar brush holding structure of FIGS. 1 and 2. Thereafter the brush and its holding structure may be snugly inserted in any suitable box similar to the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the brush may be readily and quickly removed for use by simply reversing the procedure for locking the brush in the holding structure, and may b replaced without removing the holding structure from the box.

From the foregoing description of two illustrative embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that a paint brush package or container has been provided which is simple and economical to manufacture with conventional paperboard box manufacturing equipment and from conventional paperboard stock or the like, with the various advantages for shipment, storage, and display purposes heretofore mentioned.

While the invention has been described herein by detailed reference to two embodiments selected for illustrative purposes, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications of these embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the principles of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

l. A paint brush holder for supportingly containing a paint brush comprising a substantially flat rectangular bottom panel and a substantially flat rectangular top panel of relatively stiff sheet material, the top panel being adapted to overlie the bottom panel with the bristle end of the paint brush disposed therebetween, said bottom and top panels being hingedly connected at one end thereof so as to converge toward the connecting hinge in substantial conformity with the tapered bristle end of the brush when disposed the'rebetween, longitudinally extending side flaps to be upturned for enclosing the edges of the bristle end of the brush disposed between said top and bottom panels; said side flaps being hingedly connected to said bottom panel for a portion of their lengths from the opposite end thereof toward but short of said one end and being free of connection with said top and bottom panels over the remainder of the lengths of the side flaps, means mounted on the bottom panel substantially centrally between said side flaps for securing the handle of the brush to the bottom panel while the bristle end of the brush extends between said converging top and bottom panels and upturned side flaps, and means on a free end of said top panel opposite the hinged end thereof -or removably securing the same to the handle of the brush when disposed between said bottom and top panels.

2. A paint brush holder according to claim 1 and which includes an end flap connected to the opposite end of the bottom panel from said hinge, said end flap being folded upwardly, then inwardly, and then downwardly relative to the bottom panel to provide inner and outer spaced transverse walls, and an aperture formed substantially centrally through said inner transverse wall for receiving the end of the handle of a paint brush secured to said bottom panel.

3. A paint brush holder according to claim 1 in which said means mounted on the bottom panel for securing the handle of a paint brush thereto includes an anchor flap integral with the bottom panel and folded back thereon along one edge of the anchor flap, a pin having a fiat head and a shank, the head being disposed below said bottom panel with the shank projecting through the bottom panel and anchor flap and therebeyond for passing through the handle of a paint brush to secure it to said bottom panel, and a nut, said nut and pin having interlocking conformations for removably securing the nut on the pin and against a paint brush handle pierced by the pin, said means on a free end of said top panel being a terminal flap extending therefrom for engagement by said nut to hold the same against the handle of the brush disposed between the bottom and top panels.

4. A package for supportingly containing a paint brush, including an elongated shallow box having a bottom and four upright side walls and having a cover for closing the box, and a paint brush holder of relatively stiff, sheet material disposed in the box and comprising an elongated bottom panel substantially equal in length and width to the interior of the box to fit snugly therein between said side walls of the box while resting on the bottom thereof, a top panel adapted to overlie said bottom panel with a tapered bristle end of a paint brush disposed therebetween, said bottom and top panels being hingedly connected together at one end thereof so as to converge toward the connecting hinge in substantial conformity with the tapered bristle end of the brush, longitudinally extending side flaps to be upturned for enclosing the bristle end of the brush disposed between said top and bottom panels, said side flaps being hingedly connected to said bottom panel from the opposite end thereof toward but substantially short of said one end and being free of connection with the bottom panel for the balance of the length thereof to permit it to bow upwardly toward its hinged connection with the top panel, and means mounted on said bottom panel between said side flaps for securing a handle of the brush to the bottom panel while the bristle end of the brush is confined between said bottom and top panels, whereby the brush may be securely held in position against said bottom panel with its bristles confined between the converging, hingedly connected portions of said top and bottom panels and upturned side flaps, and the maximum thickness of said brush holder substantially conforming to the interior depth of the box between the bottom and cover thereof when closed, whereby said brush holder may be held sub stantially immovably in the box between the bottom, the

cover, and the four side walls thereof.

5. A package for supportingly containing a paint brush, including an elongated shallow box having a bottom and four upright side walls and having a cover for closing the box, and a paint brush holder of relatively stiff, sheet material disposed in the box and comprising an elongated bottom panel substantially equal in length and width to the interior of the box to fit snugly therein between said side walls of the box while resting on the bottom thereof, a top panel adapted to overlie said bottom panel with a tapered bristle end of a paint brush disposed therebetween, said bottom and top panels being hingedly connected together at one end thereof so as to converge toward the connecting hinge in substantial conformity with the tapered bristle end of the brush, and

means mounted on said bottom panel between longitudinal edges thereof for securing the brush to the bottom panel while the bristle end of the brush is confined between said bottom and top panels, said means including a transverse wall extending normal to said bottom panel and to said longitudinal edges thereof and being spaced inwardly from the end thereof opposite the end to which the top panel is hingedly connected, said transverse wall having an aperture therethrough for receiving and holding the end of the handle of the brush, whereby the brush may be held substantially immovably against said bottom panel with its bristles confined between the converging, hingedly connected portions of said top and bottom panels, and the maximum thickness of said brush holder substantially conforming to the interior depth of the box between the bottom and cover thereof when closed, whereby said brush holder may be held substantially immovably in the box between the bottom, the cover, and the four side walls thereof.

6. A package according to claim 5 in which said transverse wall is formed by an end flap on said bottom panel, said end flap being folded upwardly, inwardly, and then downwardly relative to the bottom panel to form and locate said transverse wall and support the same.

7. A package for supportingly containing a paint brush, including an elongated shallow box having a bottom and four upright side walls and having a cover hinged along one edge to one of said side walls with a tuck flap along an edge of the cover opposite the hinged edge thereof, and a paint brush holder of relatively stiff sheet material disposed in the box and comprising an elongated bottom panel substantially equal in length and width to the interior of the box to fit snugly therein between the four side walls of the box while resting on the bottom thereof, a top panel adapted to overlie said bottom panel with a tapered bristle end of a paint brush disposed therebetween, said bottom and top panels being hingedly connected together at one end thereof so as to converge toward the connecting hinge in substantial conformity with the tapered bristle end of the brush, longitudinally extending side flaps to be upturned for enclosing the bristle end of the brush disposed between said top and bottom panels, said side flaps being hingedly connected to said bottom panel from the opposite end thereof toward but substantially short of said one end and being free of connection with the bottom panel for the balance of the length thereof to permit it to bow upwardly toward its hinged connection with the top panel, and means mounted on said bottom panel between longitudinal edges thereof for securing the brush to the bottom panel while the bristle end of the brush is confined between said bottom and top panels and between the side flaps, said means including a transverse wall extending normal to said bottom panel and to the upturned side flaps and being spaced inwardly from the end of the bottom panel opposite the end to which the top panel is hingedly connected, said transverse wall being formed by an end flap on said bottom panel that is folded upwardly, inwardly, and then downwardly relative to the bottom panel to form and locate said transverse wall and support the same, said transverse wall having an aperture therethrough for receiving and holding the end of the handle of the brush, whereby the brush may be held substantially immovably against said bottom panel with its bristles confined between the converging, hingedly connected portions of said top and bottom panels, and the maximum thickness of said brush holder substantially conforming to the interior depth of the box between the bottom and cover thereof when closed, whereby said brush holder may be held substantially immovably in the box between the bottom, the cover and the four side walls thereof.

8. A package according to claim 7 in which the means mounted on said bottom panel for securing the brush thereto includes an anchor flap integral with the bottom panel and folded back thereon along one edge of the anchor flap, a pin having a fiat head and a shank, the head being disposed between the bottom of said box and said bottom panel with the shank projecting through the bottom panel and the anchor flap and therebeyond for passing through an aperture in the handle of the brush, and a nut for the shank of the pin, said nut and pin having interlocking conformations thereon for removably securing the nut on the pin and against the handle of said brush to secure it firmly against said bottom panel.

9. A package for supportingly containing a paint brush, including an elongated shallow box having a bottom and four upright side walls and having a cover for closing the box, and a paint brush holder of relatively stiff, sheet material disposed in the box and comprising an elongated bottom panel substantially equal in length and width to the interior of the box to fit snugly therein between said side Walls of the box while resting On the bottom thereof, a top panel adapted to overlie said bot tom panel with a tapered bristle end of a paint brush disposed therebetween, said bottom and top panels being hingedly connected together at one end thereof so as to converge toward the connecting hinge in substantial conformity with the tapered bristle end of the brush, and means mounted on said bottom panel between longitudinal edges thereof for securing a handle of the brush to the bottom panel while the bristle end of the brush is confined between said bottom and top panels, said means including an anchor flap integral with the bottom panel and folded back thereon along one edge of the anchor flap, a pin having a flat head and a shank, the head being disposed between the bottom of said box and said bottom panel with the shank projecting through the bottom panel and anchor flap and therebeyond for passing through an aperture in the handle of the brush to secure it against movement longitudinally of the bottom panel, whereby the brush may be securely held in position against the bottom panel with its bristles confined between the converging, hingedly connected portions of said top and bottom panels with the ends of the brush bristles terminating short of the hinged connection thereof.

10. A package according to claim 9 in which said means mounted on the bottom panel for securing the handle of the brush thereto includes a nut for the shank of said pin, said nut and pin having interlocking conformations thereon for removably securing the nut on the pin and against the handle of the brush.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,638 Throckmorton Sept. 11, 1917 1,365,552 Seymour Jan. 11, 1921 2,004,320 Hanson June 11, 1935 2,339,176 Lee Jan. 11, 1944 2,841,273 Scott July 1, 1958 2,850,154 Le Febvre Sept. 2, 1958 2,956,676 Dgetluck Oct. 18, 1960 

